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N0. 6l2,090. Patented Oct. ll, I898. G. A. 0. CONQUEST.

THEATRIGAL FLYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Km. 18, 1897.) v (N0 Modal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

N0. 6|2,090. Patented Oct. ll, I898. G. A. 0. CONQUEST. THEATRICALFLYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Km. 13, 1897.) We Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 6l2,090. Patented Oct. ll, I898. G. A. 0. CONUUEST.

THEATRICAL FLYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Mar. 13, 1897.)

(No Model.) 3 sheets-Sheet 3.

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GEORGE AUGUSTUS OLIVER OONQUEST, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

TH EATRICAL FLYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,090, dated October11, 1898.

Application filed March 13, 1897.

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE AUGUSTUS OLIVER OONQUEST, theatrical manager,a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 4:9Brixton Hill, S. W. London, England, have invented certain newImprovements in Apparatus for Theatrical Purposes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for use on the stage in connectionwith figures intended to be raised in the air and to be moved in anappropriate manner. This apparatus is especially intended for use inconnection with pantomimes, ballets, and the like, in which fairies,angels, &c., are employed among the characters, but maybe employed forany other public performance.

I carrying out my invention I propose to employ a series of wiresconnected to the figures to be supported and moved. For each figure aseries of three wires is provideda central one, connected, preferably,to the upper part of the person, serving to raise the figure from theground,and two others,connected to the lower part of the body, servingto tilt the figure in any required direction. When two or more figuresare required to be raised at the same time and to go through the samemotions, all the wires are preferably connected to one weight, having awire or chain passing over suitable pulleys or drums. On wind ing up thewires by means of the drum the figures are raised simultaneously fromthe stage to the required height, the central wire supporting theweight. The two side wires are preferably slightly slack and pass overpulleys carried on the ends of levers. To the end of the lever wires orchains are connect ed, passing over pulleys and hanging down to thestage, so that they can be operated by a person in the wings. On pullingone of these connections the figure is tilted and at the same timepulled to one side; but on pulling both the wires leading to any givenfigure the latter is tilted without turning, so that any desiredposition can be taken. To move the figures sidewise, runners ortravelers are employed, carried on horizontal wires and provided withrollers, between which the suspending-wires pass. These runners areprovided with wires or connections hanging Serial No. 627,391. (Nomodel.)

down to the stage, allowing them to be drawn or slid in eitherdirection.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference ishad to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure l is anelevation of the complete apparatus. Figs. 2 to 6 show the runners ortravelers employed to give horizontal motion to the figures; and Fig. 7is a detail view of the weight and connections, showing aslightlymodified arrangement to Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows the apparatus arranged for two figures; but any suitablenumber may be employed with several rows of the same or a differentarrangement of figures. The apparatus is carried by the framework of thebuilding, the main part being carried by the cross-beams at the roof orby special means or supports of any ordinary description. The figures Aare provided with the central wire .13, connected to the upper part ofthe figure about the neck, suitable bands being carried by the figure.These central wires pass over the pulleys 0, carried by the beamD at theupper part of the apparatus and pass thence over the pulleys O to theweight E at the side ofthe stage or in the wings. The side wires B areboth connected to the figure at about the waist and extending at aslight angle at each side and pass over the pulleys F and thence overthe pulleys 0', being also connected to the weight E. The main supportis given to the figure by the central wires, the side ones beingslightly slack, excepting when specially operated.

To raise the figures from the ground, the wire frame or other connectionG is employed, connected to the lower end of the weight E, and passingover pulleys or drums g and g, and placed within convenient reach of theoperator. The wire or connection is pulled or wound up, so as to drawthe weight down and raise the figures to the required height. In thearrangement shown in the drawings the two figures would be raisedsimultaneously, as the connection for both passes to the same weight.

The pulleysF, over which the lines B pass, are carried on levers or armsf, hinged at the end f to the beam D or to any other convenient support.To the end of these hinged arms two sets of wires H and H are connected,passing over the pulleys h and h to the drums K and K, on which they canbe partly wound. To these drums the wires 7; and it are connected,passing over the pulleys 71: and hanging down to the stage. On pullingeither of these wires one of the drums K or K will be turned a distancecorresponding to the pull winding up the wires belonging to it andraising a pair of levers carrying the outer or inner side wires, turningboth wires simultaneously in the same manner. On pulling one connectionboth figures are turned toward the spectators and on operating the otherthey are turned from the spectators, the movement being quitesymmetrical. The figures are turned on pulling the wires unevenly, owingto the fact that one set of wires extends from the figures in onedirection, though at a considerable angle, and the other extends fromtheopposite side. For example, on slackening the right-hand wire belongingto theleft-hand figure, as shown in the drawings, the figure will turnits head toward the center, and when this wire is tightened and theother slackened the same figure will turn toward the audience. WVhenboth sets of wires are thoroughly taut, the figures may be arranged toface the audience or to take up any other desired position. The angletaken up by the figures will depend upon the relative length allowed tothe side wires, one being given out a short distance, not sufficient,however, to throw the whole strain upon the other. When one pair ofwires is entirely slack, as in the arrangement shown, of course thefigures are turned to their extreme position. The supporting-wire B isthe one which carries the main weight, and as it is attached to thefigure about the neck it forms the fulcrum around which the figure canturn, the center of gravity being, of course, considerably below thispoint. On pulling both wires and k the two sets of side wires B will beactuated and the figures tilted. The hinged arms are shown in Fig. 1 intheir raised position in dotted lines.

To move the figures sidewise, the arrangement shown in detail in Figs. 2to 6 is employed, supporting wires or lines L being stretchedhorizontally from side to side of the apparatus out of sight of theaudience. On these wires the slides or travelers M are carried, adaptedto move into any desired position on the said wire. These travelerscarry the rollers 171, (shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6,) a set of tworollers being employed for each of the wires B and B operating thefigures. The rollers are grooved or provided with flanges between whichthe wires pass, effectually preventing the latter escaping from theproper position.

To operate the runners,the two sets of Wires N and N are employed,passing over the pulleys n at one side and connected, respectively, tothe outer and inner ends of each of the runners. The wires N and N alsopass through the blocks or sheaves O and O, placed, re-

spectively, at the center and side of the apparatus and fixed to thesupporting-Wires L. These sheaves are also suspended by the wires 0 fromthe top of the apparatus, assisting to support the wires L. On pullingone of the sets of wires N and N by the connections hanging down to thestage the runners or travelers are pulled toward the wings or to thecenter of the stage, moving the figures in the required direction. Fig.7 shows an arrangement in which a rubber or other spring P is insertedin the connections to the weight E. The wires B and B or connectionsfrom them pass over the pulley 9 the wire or leather belt 19 passingfrom the weight and spring also passing to the pulley or to a smallerone on the same spindle. This spring causes a more graceful andeffective motion on the part of the figures.

If it is desirable that the figures should only turn one way, either tothe center or outward, I may effect this by using only two wires viz.,the supporting-wires B and B.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In an improved apparatus for stagepurposes intended for applicationto floating or suspended figures, the combination with a central wireconnected to each figure, two side Wires also connected to the figure ata lower point, a weight to which these'wires are attached, andconnections for operating them, of a movable pulley for each of the sidewires, wires attached to the said pulleys and connections to these wiresallowing the side wires to be raised or lowered independently of thecentral one, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In an improved apparatus for stage pur poses intended for applicationto floating or suspended figures, the combination with a central wireconnected to each figure, two side wires also connected to the figure ata point, a weight, springs and connections for operating them, ofpivoted arms each carrying a pulley over which one of the side wirespasses, wires operating the said pulleys and connections to the saidwires substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In an improved apparatus for stage purposes in connection withfloating or suspended figures the combination with a central wireattached to each figure at its upper end, two side wires connected tothe figure at a lower point, pulleys over which the wires pass, a weightto which they are connected and connections by which the figures can beraised or lowered, of hinged or pivoted arms each having a pulley overwhich one of the side wires passes, wires connected to the said arms andconnections by which the wires can be operated and the hinged armsraised or lowered substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4.. In an improved apparatus for stage purposes to be used in connectionwith floating or suspended figures, the combination with a central wireand two side wires connected to each figure, pulleys for the centralwire, a weight to which all the wires are attached, and connectionsallowing them to be actuated, of hinged arms, pulleys on the said armssupporting the side wires and wires attached to the said arms, drumsover which the wires pass and upon which they can be wound, andconnections to the said drums adapted to turn them, substantially asdescribed and shown 10 and for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof I have set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses,at London, this 9th day of February, 1897.

GEORGE AUGUSTUS OLIVER CONQUEST.

In presence of ALBERT EDWARD ELLEN, FRANK WILLIAM PATTISON.

